7 reasons package tours aren't lame

Reasons tours aren't lame: instant friends – For people uncomfortable meeting others on their own, tours provide an easy environment in which to make friends right away.

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Guides create meaningful experiences – Intrepid travelers might be able to do this on their own -- why look down on others for needing help to get there?

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Tours teach you how to travel – The Louvre is a beautiful place ... for scam artists. Tour guides can help you spot them. Hmm. That guy look kind of sketchy to you?

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They ease worries – Traveling alone can be a scary proposition, particularly when you haven't done it before or don't speak a local language. A tour provides a support system that allows travelers -- even experienced ones -- to feel comfortable taking a chance on new experiences.

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And get you places you can't get yourself – While independent travel is great, many places in the world can't be accessed by solo travelers due to license and government restrictions. Many big destinations, such the Galapagos (pictured) and Antarctica, need to be explored as part of organized trips.

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Tours can be cheaper than solo travel – In places like the Solomon Islands -- where this World War II Japanese patrol boat wreck is located -- lack of infrastructure and travel services make solo travel too expensive for many travelers.

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Tours provide safety – By traveling with a group, you have safety in numbers and don't have to venture into unknown places without a companion.

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Story highlights

Tendency for many travelers to disparage group tours is misguided

Tour guides can lead you to unique local experiences

Package groups get access to restricted areas -- African safaris are an example

Author learned to become an independent traveler through tour group travel

Gear-grinding buses jamming up parking lots.

Gawping packs of wide-eyed clods in sandals and floppy hats.

Fanny packs.

Amateur travelers hopping in and out of said buses, snapping photos while a peppy guide gushes over some run-of-the-mill attraction.

"This is the Fabric Museum. You have an hour here. Then lunch!"

Anyone who's traveled past their front door has seen the benighted tour group and recoiled in revulsion.

While this may seem counter-intuitive since traveling alone allows you more flexibility, many tour companies are able to secure bulk rates and other deals.

Small group operators can be cheaper for mid-range travel than if you were to price out the same trip for yourself.

One diehard independent traveler I know wanted to visit the wild but scattered Solomon Islands.

Lack of infrastructure and traditional tourist services meant going to all the obscure places he wanted to see -- including some historic World War II battlefields -- would have cost upward of $10,000 for charters and services.

Instead, he spent $3,500 on a package tour, enjoyed every minute of it and remains in touch with several members of the tour, including a still-active World War II vet.

What's more, saving on the cost of excursions means you'll have more money to splurge on a memorable dinner with your new friends or a ridiculous souvenir for your family.

7. Tours provide safety

When you're on your own, you're a more tempting target for thieves, scammers and criminals.

By traveling with a group, you have safety in numbers and don't have to venture into unknown places without a companion.

Additionally, tour guides can advise you on what areas to avoid that you wouldn't otherwise have known about.